Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-11-23


At about this time, also, momentous
events were occurring in Mabels life. A
beautiful girl, with an amiable and sweet
disposition, with most winning ways and
with wealthy father moving in q good
social position, it was not to be wondered
at that she had suitors for her hand; but
there were only two whose affection for
her was regarded seriously by the family.
One of these was Mr.. Edward Layton, the
other Mr.. Archibald Laing.
Mabel's father favored the suit of Arch.
ibald Laing; Mabel's uncle, the gentle.
man who was upon the jury in the trial,
favored the suit of Edward Layton. He
was never weary of sounding the young
mans praises, and it may be that this
rather strengthened Mabel father against
Edward Layton. However, the young
lady had decided for herself. She had
given her heart to Edward Layton, and
there grew between them an absorbing
and devoted attachment.
While these matters were in progress
both Archibald Laing and Edward Lay
ton were admitted freely to the house,
and thus they had equal chances. But
when the lady whom two men are in love
with makes up her mind, the chances are
no longer equal. It was not without a
struggle that Archibald Laing abandoned
his pretensions. From what afterward
transpired he could not have loved Mabel
with less strength than Edward Layton
did. It was no small sacrifice on his part
to relnquish his hopes of winning Mabel
for his wife, more especially when her
father was on his side. There were inter-
views of an affecting nature between him
and Mabel. There were interviews, also,
between him and Edward Layton. The
two men had been friends long before they
came into association with Mabel Rut-
land, and it speaks well for the generosity
and nobility of their natures that this Of
fair Of the heart-the like Of which has
been the cause Of bitter feuds from time
immemorial- not turn their friendship
into enmity. In the estimate of their
characters at this period Archibald Laing
showed the higher nobility, for the reason
that it devolved upon him to make volun-
tary and heartrending sacrifice. He in.
formed the young lady's parents that he
gave up all hope of obtaining their daugh.
ter's hand, and at the same time he de-
clared that if it ever lay in his power to
render Mabel or Edward Layton SER
vice, he would not hesitate to render it,
whatever might be the cost. Nobly has
he redeemed this pledge.
He suffered much-to such an extent,
indeed, that he determined to leave the
country, and find home in another land.
He bade the Rutlands farewell by letter,
and sailed for America, where he settled,
and realized an amazing fortune.
The field was thus left free for Mabel
and Edward. Mr.. Rutland was seriously
displeased. He had been thwarted in a
wish that was very dear to him, and
he was not the kind of man to for
get the defeat. Although Edward Lay
ton was allowed to come to the house,
Mr.. Rutland received him without favor,
and it was only upon the imploring
and repeated solicitations of his wife
and daughter that he consented to an
engagement between the young peo-
pie. 1t was half hearted consent, and
caused them so- unhappiness. More
than once he decl' red in their presence,
and in the presence of his wife, that If
anything ever occurred which would cast
the slightest shadow Of doubt or dishonor
upon Edward Layton, no power on earth
should induce him to allow the marriage
to take place. It was not necessary for
him to impress upon them that, above
everything else in the world, he was
jealous of his good name. They knew
this well enough, and were in certain
sense proud in the knowledge, because the
stainless reputation he bore reflected
honor upon themselves. But they did not
see the cloud that was hanging above
them. 1t gathered surely and steadily,
and brought with it terrible events, in the
whirlpool of which the happiness OF
Mabel and Edward was fated to be in
quilted.
The cause lay not in themselves. 1t lay
in Eustace Rutland. 1t was he who was
responsible for all.
He was in London, in partial disgrace
with his father. He was without q
career; he had already contracted vicious
and idle habits; he was frequently from
home; and although his father questioned
him severely, he would give no truthful
account of his movements and proceed
ings. Some accounts he. did give, but his
father knew instinctively that they were
false or evasive. AS he could obtain no
satisfaction from his son, Mr.. Rutland,
aware of the perfect confidence which ex-
listed between Eustace and Mabel, applied
to her for information; but she would not
utter one word to her brothers hurt. Her
father could extract nothing from her, and
there gradually grew within him an idea
that there was conspiracy against him
in his own home, O conspiracy in which
Edward Layton was the principal agent.
1t was natural, perhaps, that he should
think more hardly Of this stranger than
of his own children.
Had he set q watch upon his son, he
might have made discoveries which would
have been of service to all, and which
might have averted terrible consequences.
But proud and self willed as he was, it did
not occur to him to do anything which in
his view savored of 1neanness. His son
Eustace went his way, therefore, to sure
and certain ruin. When he was absent
from home he ccrresponded regularly with
his sister; and Mr.. Rutland sometimes
demanded to see this correspondence.
"You can make nothing of it, papa,"
said Mabel. "Eustace and do not cor
respond like other people,"
He insisted, nevertheless, upon seeing
these letters, and Mabel showed them to
him. AS he could not understand them,
he demanded that she should read them
intelligently to him; but it being fact
that there was always something in Eus-
tace's correspondence which would deepen
his fathers anger against him, the young
girl refused to read them. This, as may
be supposed, did not tend to pacify Mr..
Rutland 1t intensified the bitterness Of
his heart toward those whom he believed
were conspiring against him7 He applied
to Edward Layton.
"You are in my daughters confidence"
he said to the young man, land as you
have wrung from me q reluctant consent
to an engagement with her, must ask
you. to give me the information which she
withholds from me-"
He met with another rebuff. Edward
Layton declared that he would not violate
the confidence which Mabel had reposed
in him. At one time Mr.. Rutland said to
Edward Layton:
'My son has been absent from home
for several days. Have you seen him?"
eyes, SIR" replied Edward, II have
seen him."
But he would say nothing further.
He was in q most painful position.
Mabel had extracted from him solemn
promise that he would reveal nothing
without her consent, and he was stead
fastly loyal to her. He had another rea-
son for his silence, and, in the light of
that reason, and of tho feelings which
Mr. Rutland harbored toward him, he
felt that the happiness he hoped would be
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